Types of Treehoppers: A Friendly Guide to These Fascinating Insects

Treehoppers are fascinating insects that come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. With over 3,200 known species, these plant-feeding insects are found all around the world. As you delve into the world of treehoppers, you’ll quickly discover the incredible diversity among them.

The three main families of treehoppers include Melizoderidae, Aetalionidae, and Membracidae, with Membracidae being the largest and most widespread. Each species has its own unique characteristics, making them an intriguing subject for entomologists and nature enthusiasts alike.

These insects are not only captivating in their appearance but also play a significant role in the ecosystem as they feed on and are found on various types of plants. Identifying the plant on which a treehopper is feeding is often a key step in determining its species. As you continue learning about treehoppers, you’ll develop a greater appreciation for the complexity and beauty of these remarkable insects.

Evolution and Taxonomy

Genera and Classification

Treehoppers belong to the family Membracidae and are part of the order Hemiptera. They come under the superfamily Membracoidea, which is within the infraorder Cicadomorpha and the suborder Auchenorrhyncha. There are about 9 subfamilies of treehoppers, each with distinctive features and characteristics.

Some examples of treehopper genera include:

• Entylia
• Smilia
• Stictocephala

Since treehoppers have a vast range of morphological diversity, the taxonomy and systematics of this family are subject to ongoing research.

Geographic Distribution

Treehoppers are found worldwide but are mainly distributed in the following regions:

• North America: Many treehopper species inhabit the United States, with a higher concentration in states like Missouri and Mexico.
• Europe: Treehopper populations are relatively smaller in Europe compared to North America.
• Tropics: Countries like Ecuador have a rich diversity of treehoppers due to their tropical climate, which provides an ideal environment for their existence.

Here’s a comparison table of treehopper distribution in these key geographic regions:

In conclusion, treehoppers exhibit fascinating evolutionary traits and taxonomy. The ongoing study of their lineage and systematics helps to better understand their behaviors and ecological significance. Their global distribution helps us appreciate the diverse range of forms these insects can take.

Anatomy

Physical Features

Treehoppers are classified under the order Hemiptera and are part of the class Arthropoda. These fascinating insects have a unique anatomy that consists of a head, thorax, and abdomen. A significant characteristic is their enlarged pronotum, which extends backward over the abdomen and usually covers part of the wings. Treehoppers are typically small, with sizes ranging from 3 to 15 millimeters in length.

Some common physical features of treehoppers include:

• Antennae, which are usually short and bristle-like
• Three-segmented feet (tarsi)
• Wings, often with distinct color patterns and venation
• Modified mouthparts, used for sucking plant sap

Morphological Diversity

The morphological diversity in treehoppers is truly breathtaking. Their colors and shapes are highly variable, and some species even mimic leaves, thorns, or other plant parts for camouflage. Often, the pronotum exhibits various forms of ornamentation, such as spines, humps, or intricate shapes.

For example, some treehoppers might display:

• Vibrant green coloration, resembling leaf-like structures
• Pronotum shapes resembling thorns or spines for defense
• Intricate patterns and colors to blend in with their environment

While it might be challenging to identify treehoppers due to their vast diversity, you can use identification keys, photos, and expert guidance to determine species. One thing is for sure – witnessing the incredible variety and adaptations of treehoppers reminds us of the beauty and complexity of the natural world.

Life Cycle

Egg to Adult Transition

The life cycle of treehoppers consists of three main stages: egg, nymph, and adult. After hatching from the egg, nymphs develop through several, commonly five, larger instars. During the late instars, you’ll notice that they start developing wing pads. Once the last instar sheds its skin, they emerge as adults.

Treehoppers have one to several generations per year, which varies depending on their location and species. The eggs can be laid singly or in masses, either inserted directly into the living tissue of their host plant, or deposited on its surface. Some females even coat their eggs with a frothy substance that hardens when dry.

Herbivorous Feeding Habits

Your treehoppers feed mainly on plant sap, which they obtain by piercing the plant tissues with their specialized mouthparts called stylets. They have a preference for trees, like oak, but sometimes feed on herbaceous plants and crops as well. As these insects grow and mature, their feeding preferences might change.

Roles of Ants

Treehoppers’ relationship with ants can be quite fascinating. In a mutualistic association called ant mutualism, ants collect honeydew, a sugary byproduct of treehoppers, and reciprocate by providing them protection from predators and parasites.

Here is a quick comparison of treehopper life stages:

Remember to keep an eye on treehoppers in your garden for their unique lifecycle, fascinating feeding habits, and intriguing relationship with ants.

Species Interactions

Predators and Defense Strategies

Treehoppers are fascinating insects known for their diverse interactions with other species. They have developed various defense strategies to protect themselves from predators. For example, many treehoppers exhibit mimicry and camouflage to blend in with their surroundings, making them difficult for predators to spot.

Some key defense strategies include:

• Mimicry: Resembling other organisms or objects in their environment.
• Camouflage: Blending in with the colors and patterns of their surroundings.
• Gregarious behavior: Living in groups to make it harder for predators to single out individual treehoppers.

Treehoppers may even partner with wasps, mutually benefiting from each other’s defense mechanisms.

Communication and Vibrations

Not only do treehoppers need to protect themselves from predators, but they also need a way to communicate with each other. They achieve this through creating vibrations and sounds on the plants they inhabit. When one treehopper produces a vibration, others in the vicinity can detect the signal, facilitating communication within the group.

Some reasons for using vibrations include:

• Mating calls: Attracting mates by producing distinct vibrations.
• Warning signals: Alerting other treehoppers of nearby predators or disturbances.

In this way, you can see that treehoppers are quite skilled in interacting with their environment and cohabiting species, demonstrating unique adaptations for protection and communication.

Human Interaction

Damage to Agriculture

Treehoppers can cause significant damage to agriculture, as they feed on plant sap and weaken the plants, reducing their overall health and crop yields. For example, you might see wilted leaves and stunted growth in your garden due to their feeding patterns. Additionally, treehoppers can transmit plant viruses, further harming your crops.

In order to protect your plants, you can use insecticides or introduce natural predators like ladybugs that are known to feed on treehoppers. Implementing preventative measures such as crop rotation and regular monitoring can also help minimize treehopper damage.

Study and Curation

Studying treehoppers can help us understand their biology, ecology, and behavior. This knowledge can ultimately inform better pest management strategies. Researchers examine various aspects of treehopper life cycles, including their mating habits, host plant preferences, and interactions with predators.

Your role in this process can involve collecting treehoppers for research purposes or even as a hobbyist curator. By building collection of preserved treehopper specimens, you contribute to the documentation of their diversity and distribution. In doing so, you support efforts to better understand these fascinating insects and potentially develop new strategies to reduce their impact on agriculture.

Reader Emails

Over the years, our website, whatsthatbug.com has received hundreds of letters and some interesting images asking us about these insects. Scroll down to have a look at some of them.

Letter 1 – Thorn Treehopper

Grasshopper???
Location: Ft. Lauderdale, FL
January 9, 2011 2:39 pm
Good Afternoon,
We recently discovered our powder puff bushes in the backyard had become a home to these creatures. We tried to look them up everywhere and havent been successful. We think they might be some kind of infant insects but are not sure. There’s a bunch of them, they have wings, their bodies seem point and yellow. If you could help us we’d be most appreciative.
Signature: CG

Dear CG,
These are not immature insects.  They are adult Treehoppers in the family Membracidae, and we believe they are Thorn Treehoppers, Umbonia crassicornis, based on a photo posted to BugGuide.  The Info page on BugGuide quotes the University of Florida Featured Creatures website which describes them as: “a variable species as to size, color and structure, particularly the pronotal horn of males. Typically, the adult is about 0.5 inch in length and is green or yellow with reddish lines and brownish markings. … Young nymphs have three horns instead of the one seen on the adults.”  The Featured Creatures site also indicates:  “The thorn bug is an occasional pest of ornamentals and fruit trees in southern Florida. During heavy infestations, nymphs and adults form dense clusters around the twigs, branches and even small tree trunks. Some hosts which have been severely damaged include Hibiscus sp., powder-puff (Calliandra spp.), woman’s tongue tree (Albizzia lebbek), and Acacia spp. Young trees of jacaranda (Jacaranda acutifolia) and royal poinciana (Delonix regia) with a diameter of 1.5 to 2 inches have been killed by thorn bugs in the Tampa area. The trunks were so heavily infested that is was difficult to place a finger anywhere on the trunk without touching a specimen. Damage is caused by sucking the sap and by oviposition cuts. Butcher (1953) reported that certain trees, especially some cassias, suffered considerable loss of foliage, and that pithecellobiums (Pithecellobium spp.) suffered general and extensive terminal twig death. He also mentioned that thorn bug honey-dew secretions and accompanying sooty mold development caused a nuisance to home owners. Kuitert (1958) noted that heavy accumulations of honey-dew sometimes occurred on parked automobiles. There are reports of barefooted children stepping on the spines of thorn bugs which drop out of trees. The wounds are slow healing and sometimes become infected.“

Letter 2 – Treehopper from Indonesia

Subject: Tree hopper
Location: Bandung, West Java, Indonesia
December 24, 2012 1:53 am
Hello again Daniel,
I took these pic at the small garden in front of my house.
I didn’t know what kind of tree hopper it is, although it is close to buffalo tree hopper but this one got brown color, and three spines (left, right, and middle stretch to it’s back).
I almost didn’t notice this one, I taught it just a thorn in a tree. As always natures amazed me :).
Signature: Mohamad Idham Iskandar

Hi Mohamad,
Many Treehoppers in the family Membracidae mimic thorns, as you can see by the variety of species pictured on Bugguide and on the Brisbane Insect website.  We believe we might have identified your particular Treehopper as the Horned Treehopper (Alosextius carinatus), which we located on the Photokito blog.  Dave’s Garden also has a photo that looks similar as does India Nature Watch.

Many Treehoppers exude honeydew which makes them attractive to ants as your photos indicate.

Letter 3 – Planthopper from Mexico

Subject:  Small, Green, Clear wings, kind of Frog head
Geographic location of the bug:  La Manzanilla, Jalisco, Mexico
Date: 10/16/2018
Time: 10:47 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  Have no idea what this is. Our cat seemed interested in it…..on our curtain this afternoon. Quite small.
How you want your letter signed:  Dave W.

Letter 4 – Probably immature Green-Face Wattle Hopper from Australia or related species in the family Eurybrachyidae

What’s this please?
Taken on Mount Tamborine, Australia.
It’s an odd tiny thing that walks backwards as if it’s spikes are on it’s head. Very jerky too. It’s like a mini dinosaur. Can you help? It’s got a few of us on the Ex-pats site flummoxed! Regards
Colette

Hi Colette,
We were certain this was an immature Plant Hopper, but were unsure of the species, so we scoured the Geocities website. We found several likely candidates in the family Eurybrachyidae whose nymphs look very similar to your image, but we cannot settle on an exact match. Several species are described as moving backwards. Some likely candidates include the Green Face Wattle Hopper (Olonia viridiventris), the Spider-face Wattle Hopper (Gelastopsis insignis), and the Eye-patterned Gum Hopper (Platybrachys vidua).

Letter 5 – Mating Horseshoe-Shaped Treehoppers from Oaxaca, Mexico

Subject: found this
Location: Oaxaca, Mexico
July 27, 2013 6:56 pm
I found this in Mexico and would like to know the type of bug this is.
Signature: Dario

Dear Dario,
These are Treehoppers in the family Membracidae, and according to BugGuide, they: “differ from related families in having a large pronotum that extends back over the abdomen and (often) covers the head; many species appear humpbacked or thorn-like; others have spines, horns or keels.”  Your individuals are among the most strangely shaped we have seen photos of.  It appears you have also photographed a mating pair.  We found it identified as a Horseshoe-Shaped Treehopper, Sphongophorus ballista, on The Featured Creature. 

Letter 6 – Membracid Tree Hopper Nymph

Another mystery Bug?
HI,
Thanks for the help identifying the bark lice for us. I was tending to some elderberry bushes here in Fairhope Al., and noticed an unusual little guy that I have never seen before. Would you be able to assist us again? I have attached an image of the insect. Sorry for the low quality but it was small and it was somewhat camera shy! Thanks,
John and Melissa Pershina

Hi John and Melissa,
We believe this is an immature Plant Hopper. We will try to figure out the species for you. Eric Eaton provided this information: ” The mystery hopper is a juvenile membracid (tree hopper, family Membracidae). I have no idea which one. The adults look radically different from the nymphs.”

Letter 7 – Probably Treehoppers from Peru

Unknown bugs
Location: Rio Pindayo, near Curimana, Ucayali, Peru
February 5, 2011 2:51 am
Can anyone please help to identify these bugs seen in Peru?
Signature: Peter Bruce-Jones

Hi Peter,
We believe that these are Treehoppers in the family Membracidae, though we would not rule out that they are Free Living Hemipterans in another family.  We will work more on a species identification for you.  It appears as though the individual in the upper left corner is giving live birth to a nymph.  Many Hemipterans, including Aphids, are able to reproduce asexually, with females producing genetic clones of themselves without the need for a male of the species.

Letter 8 – Thorn Mimic Treehopper from India

Subject: Curious to know the name of this insect.
Location: GUWAHATI, NORTHEAST INDIA.
July 23, 2016 3:22 am
Will be very thankful with your reply.
Signature: Any

Dear Any,
We are confident that we have identified your Thorn Mimic Treehopper in the family Membracidae as Leptocentrus taurus since we have found corroboration on India Nature Watch and Biodiversity India. 

Letter 9 – Thorn Treehopper

What is this thing?
Location: Sarasota Florida
March 30, 2011 3:01 pm
I found my Calliandra haematocephala a.k.a. Dwarf Red Powder Puff covered with a ton of these unknown insects this afternoon. Help!!!!
Signature: Peter Sowka

Hi Peter,
We matched your photo to that of an immature Thorn Treehopper, Umbonia crassicornis, on BugGuide.  Adults will have fully developed wings.  BugGuide also provides some interesting information, including: “Both young and adults feed on the same trees. Many times both are found together in clusters on branches” and “The female actively tends her brood or colony, which can number from 15 to 50 individuals.”

Letter 10 – Thorn Treehopper

Subject: What’s that bug?
Location: Ft. Lauderdale, FL
May 16, 2014 3:56 pm
Found this cute little guy hitching a ride on my car in Ft. Lauderdale on May 16.
Signature: Cynthia

Hi Cynthia,
This is a male Thorn Treehopper, Umbonia crassicornis.  You can compare your image to this image on BugGuide.  We have many images on our site of Thorn Treehoppers, however, your individual is quite distinctive.  There is considerable variation in coloring, markings and the development of the “thorn” in this species.  BugGuide has examples of some of the variations.

Letter 11 – Thorn Treehoppers

Subject: Strange bug on tree in Florida
Location: Naples, FL
October 19, 2013 4:45 pm
Hello there, in the yard of my friends in Florida, they discovered a strange bug in their tree, they went to multiple places but couldn’t find out what it is. Do you know?
Signature: Nikki

Hi Nikki,
These are Thorn Treehoppers, Umbonia crassicornis, which we identified thanks to images posted to BugGuide.  There are many Treehoppers from around the world that escape visual detection because they mimic thorns and twigs.  Your photo contains both adults and nymphs.  According to BugGuide:  “The female actively tends her brood or colony of 15-50 individuals” and “U. crassicornis has been the subject of studies on parental care and communication.” 

Letter 12 – Thorn Treehoppers

Subject: UNKNOWN INSECT
Location: homestead florida
July 14, 2014 7:51 am
Hello, on one of my tree branches there were hundreds of green insects. they seemed to grow in stages. very small brown looking with blue colors. as they get bigger, they are like lime green with a head that has like a spike that curves back. they just kind a sit there. and they fly!!
Signature: KIM PROZZILLO

Dear KIM,
Your image is quite blurry, but these Thorn Treehoppers, Umbonia crassicornis, are unmistakable. 

Letter 13 – Tree Hopper

Subject: Small brown bug
Location: Dallas, tx
April 10, 2016 7:24 pm
We found this bug in our house and are stumped. What is it?
Signature: Greg

Dear Greg,
This is a Treehopper in the family Membracidae, and we believe, based on BugGuide images, that it is in the genus Cyrtolobus.

Letter 14 – Thorn Tree Hopper from Dominican Republic: Marcianito

Little spiky bug… (the last martian on earth)
Tue, Mar 10, 2009 at 2:32 PM
Hi Bugman!
When I was a little boy I used to play with this type of insect I called “marcianitos” (little martian in spanish). There used to be hundreds in some trees at school, but I wasn’t able to find them in any other place. I even tried to breed them at home in every plant I found but they always disappeared.
Today, 20 years later, I was at the mechanic and when I bent down to pick up something I found this one lying on the floor, It was barely alive but I managed to bring it home and take some photos.
Most of them looked like this one, but there were others with other color highlights, some brown instead of green, and others with the top spike less “pointy” but flatter, longer and a little bit bent backwards with a more aerodynamics look. It doesn’t smell bad, but when I gathered many of them together for a while they produced a bitter-leaf-smell I think but not too strong. They fly and when put lying down they do some kind of “click” to get up.
Could you help me identify this boy?
Thanks!
Edgar O.
Dominican Republic ( Caribbean)

Dear Edgar,
We are perfectly charmed by your letter, from the childhood memories, to the decades later encounter, to the colorful description, to the descriptive Spanish name for this unknown Tree Hopper. Tree Hoppers are in the family Membracidae. Though we cannot identify your exact species, you can view many similar relatives of your Marcianito from North America on BugGuide

Update: Thu, Mar 12, 2009 at 9:02 AM
Thank you very much Daniel!
With the name you gave me I think I found more about them, their name is “Thorn Treehopper” (Thorn bug, Thornhopper)… check it out at bugguide:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/4791/ I also find something here: http://www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk/hemip1.htm#tree
If that info is correct then we have just identified our bugdy!
Thank you again!
Edgar.

Thu, Mar 12, 2009 at 7:21 AM
Comment:
This Membracid is in the genus Umbonia most likely U. crassicornis or U. spinosa. I have seen them in aggregations many times, usually the mothers gaurd the eggs which they insert into plant tissue, then they form family groups which are subsocial.
Author : Jackruby

Letter 15 – Treehopper

Extremely cute mystery beetle – help?
April 19, 2010
Hi, WTB!
I have no idea what this bug is or where it came from. I was sitting on our front porch when he (I’ll assume it’s a he) came strolling across the banister. I ran in the house, grabbed the digital camera, and stood there fumbling with it while Mystery Bug stood around waiting for me to get ready. He was extremely cooperative throughout the process and didn’t seem to mind the profanity spewing forth out of me as I attempted to operate the camera and deal with the fact that it refused to let me zoom in on anything and that its “macro” setting lies like a dog (but makes flowers ten feet away look AMAZING).
In any case, the pictures do this little bug no justice. It was about the size of my pinky fingernail and it had little pink eyes set very far apart on its head like a cow. It seemed to flutter its wings nervously now and then, but didn’t fly away even when poked at. In fact, I wasn’t altogether all that sure it could fly at all until it finally did, after I was done, very quickly.
In addition to the three pictures I have enclosed here, I also have some very lovely snapshots of our porch and flowerbed with a comically out-of-focus bug in the middle of them if you are interested.
Any help you could provide in identification would be greatly appreciated.
Love Always,
Ben
Spartanburg, SC

Hi Ben,
This is a Treehopper, and we are relatively certain it is Smilia fasciata based on images posted to BugGuide.

Letter 16 – Treehopper

Chiricahua National Monument Bug
Location: Bonita Campground, Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona
December 26, 2010 5:49 pm
This flying insect was in the Chiricahua National Monument (Arizona) December 24, 2010. Specifically in campsite #5 at the Bonita Canyon Campground. It is about 3-4 mm. The is the best I could do with the photograph.
Thank You.
Signature: Debra

Hi Debra,
This is a Treehopper in the family Membracidae.  The closest match we found on BugGuide is the genus Telamonanthe.

Letter 17 – Treehopper

A Child’s Question
Location: Falls Church, VA (Northern Virginia)
May 3, 2012 8:26 pm
A child at my school asked me what this was today and I figured I’d best ask you!
Signature: Nicole

Hi Nicole,
First off we want to compliment on this beautiful saturated color photograph of a Oak Treehopper, Platycotis vittata, which we identified on BugGuide where it is described as:  “Grayish spotted with yellow, or turquoise with red stripes and red eyes. With or without a thorn-like horn.  This species may be easily distinguished from all our other species of membracids (except Umbonia and Lephopelta) by its very short posterior tarsi. It usually has a long compressed pronotal horn which varies greatly in length and may be entirely absent. The wing venation shows considerable variation. Green body color, mottled or speckled with orange. (Dozier 1920)”.

Letter 18 – Treehopper

Subject: What is this bug?
Location: Fort MIll, SC
July 21, 2014 1:12 pm
Just took a photo of this dude. Can you identify it for me. The only picture I found of it on the net also did not identify it. Thanks. Keep buggin’
Signature: Dr.Weetabix

Dear Dr. Weetabix,
Three days ago, we posted an image of this Treehopper which we identified as Entylia carinata.  The two images are so similar that at first we thought this was a duplicate submission.

Letter 19 – Treehopper

Subject: weird bug in Virginia
Location: Southwest Virginia, on the border of Smyth & Wythe counties
June 4, 2015 12:46 pm
Bugman, I was sitting on a chair in the yard of our farmland in southwest Virginia when I noticed this bug on my knee. He moved slooooowly and his feet were really stuck to my pants. I’ve never seen this kind of bug before. What is it?
Signature: Lilli, not like the flower

Dear Lilli,
This is some species of Treehopper in the family Membracidae, and many members have spinelike or leaflike protuberances on their dorsal surfaces that help to camouflage them when they are feeding on plants.  The closest match we could find on BugGuide is this image of Helonica excelsa.

Letter 20 – Treehopper

Subject:  One horn, base of horn covers all body
Geographic location of the bug:  Montgomery hills, Maryland (silver spring)20910
Date: 07/28/2019
Time: 09:49 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  Dear bugman, I wish I had more photos for you….sitting still in a parking lot, this thing landed on my arm with such force I thought I was hit with a stone! It then leaped forcefully backwards, flipped, and stuck to my side window. It was a dark, gray brown color.(Maybe had some small spots??  If you looked at it from an Ariel view, it would look like the cap of an acorn. The wide base of horn protected the entire body and wings! I’m assuming it’s a type of beetle….
Good luck, and I’ll keep my fingers crossed you have an answer for me!
How you want your letter signed:  Thanks for your time! sara

Dear Sara,
Based on the insect’s silhouette and your location, we believe we have correctly identified this Treehopper as Glossonotus turriculatus thanks to images posted to BugGuide.  Hosts listed are oak and hickory.

Letter 21 – Treehopper from Malaysia

Subject: Tree Hopper
Location: Ulu Belum, Perak, Malaysia
January 4, 2013 2:19 am
Hi Bugman,
I found a devil like tree hopper.
What is it actually?
Signature: Asyraf

Dear Asyraf,
We somehow missed this submission when you sent it several weeks ago.  Many Treehoppers mimic thorns on plants as camouflage, and the spikes have the added advantage of making them very difficult to swallow.